Your garden can feel like an extra outdoors room for your house, and small changes can make a really big difference. You don’t have to spend a fortune to upgrade your garden, and these tips will help you improve your garden’s aesthetic, without breaking the bank.
Layer Plants By Height For A Fuller Look
When it comes to your plants, it is a good idea to choose them based on their heights, in three main layers (tall, medium and low heights), to make your garden look fuller.
Place taller plants at the back of your flowerbeds, or in the center of island plantings, and then add in some medium shrubs or perennials. Finish with some low edging plants to soften up your borders, and hide any bare soil.
Choose plants that bloom at different times, so you always have something in bloom from spring until fall and early winter.
Pick a color scheme you like, with two to three main colors for flowers and blooms, so everything feels cohesive.
For tubs and containers, choose your plants so they vary in height, with at least one plant that will cascade over the edge of the pot, for the perfect layering.
Upgrade Your Outdoor Lighting
Outdoor lighting is often neglected, but it really can transform the overall aesthetic of your garden.
Add lights along your paths, and outdoor festoon lights work wonders on creating a cozy atmosphere, with a nice warm glow.
Drape outdoor string lights along fences, a pergola or railings, as they’ll help to illuminate your paths to make it safer to be outside, when it’s dark.
Lastly, add some solar lanterns near any benches or seating areas, for a soft and luminous glow that doesn’t need any wiring.
Add Mulch To Make Everything Look Finished
Mulch does a great job at making planters, pots and flowerbeds look finished. It works for any type of plant, and hides any bare soil, so the flowers and shrubs stand out.
There are a few different types of mulch, like shredded hardwood, pine straw or compost, depending on the look you’re going for, with your garden.
Spread your chosen mulch two to three inches deep, and try and keep it a few inches away from the stems of your plants, making sure you refresh and replace it twice a year.
When you add mulch to your flowerbeds and pots, it helps with improving your plant’s moisture retention, so you can water less.
Use Climbing Plants To Add Height Fast
Climbing plants give your garden instant height, and give you a more layered look. They really help to fill in the gaps, whilst you wait for shrubs to fully grow.
Choose climbing varieties like clematis, honeysuckle, climbing roses, and jasmine for fragrance and color.
You can add some seasonal climbing plants, like sweet peas in spring, morning glories in summer, and ornamental gourds in fall. Keep up with consistency watering, feeding, and pest checks, to ensure your climbing plants stay tidy and healthy.